Background: According to the ethical guidelines, family members of the patient should be allowed to be present during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Nurses should be able to, besides performing CPR, decide if family presence is appropriate, support and explain the course of events to the family.

Aim: The aim of this study was to illuminate nurses' experiences of family presence during resuscitation. Method: A literature study has been made of 11 qualitative studies, where differences and similarities were analysed. The studies were published between the years 2000 – 2015.

Result: Two main themes were identified and five subthemes. The main themes were: "The nurse's experience of their work situation" and "The nurse's experience of the circumstances that affects the nursing". The findings showed that the nurses experienced a dilemma when they needed to decide if family presence was appropriate. The nurses experienced that a bond could be created with the families through the role of support person. They experienced that the family members could participate in the care but they could also be a distraction and a source of stress. Conclusion: Clear local guidelines would facilitate the decision if family presence is appropriate. A support person for the family would also facilitate the family's presence. More education and experience in this subject helps nurses overcome fears of difficulties often associated with family presence.